Don't tread on me

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Commentator

In all this craziness of this shut down, there is something that somehow remains fuzzy, something just isn't right, and no one is saying it out loud, we are getting snookered, and we know it, but we can't figure out exactly how. So let me say this straight out. This shut down is flat out illegal, it is point blank against the Constitution, it is outright tyranny, and it is our patriotic duty to revolt against it.

The Constitution was amended with this writ of rights that came straight from France. We have Robes Pierre - of all people - to thank for our Bill of Rights. Who was Robes Pierre? He was the world's first terrorist. Robes Pierre terrorized the nation of France to force it to give up their king and accept the new republic. In so doing, he wrote the people a list of rights they would enjoy under the new republic. A politician's politician, you might say.

Now the very first right of the people living under the republic - and therefore the most important right we have - is the right to free speech; this includes freedom of the press and freedom to assemble for purposes of worship or to protest the government. All of that is your freedom of speech.

When we sing "land of the freeeeeeeeee" ... we are singing about the first Amendment. When we sing, "I'm proud to be an American, where, at least, I know I'm free..." we are singing about the first Amendment prohibiting Congress from making any law that takes away our freedom of speech.

Government can not take away our freedom in this republic. The republic was set up under the strict prohibition of making any law that takes away our freedom; IOW, if some Governor proclaims he/she has outlawed your freedom for any reason, that Governor is no longer a Governor, he/she has zero authority the moment he/she does that, because he/she has gone outside of the republic, where he/she is just another blow hard, all the authority of being a Governor is contained within the Constitution and their abiding within that framework of law. That's why they take an oath of office to defend the Constitution, not defend their political party, not defend the people, but defend the Constitution... all the power of their office is given by the Constitution.

So, this is an illegal lock down and we the people are not under any such law, this is the equivalent of a military officer giving an illegal order in the field, you actually are in trouble if you obey that order, we are not supposed to carry out illegal orders. Now the corner grocery store can legally require me to wear a mask if I want to shop there, that is their prerogative, but the Governor can not order me to stay at home or not go to church or not protest his tyrannical edicts. In Illinois, the county sheriffs are refusing to carry out the Governor's illegal orders, they do that because they understand better than to carry out illegal commands. It is a sad state of affairs that the common people do not have that understanding, but we are starting to figure it out.

The con job is the use of the pandemic as a state of emergency and the strange act of trying to place a quarantine on healthy people. Already something should not feel right about that. But it doesn't matter what the real death rate is or whether hospitals are over whelmed with patients, none of that matters, the government can not tread on the first Amendment for any reason and not for any amount of time. The Amendment prohibits the emergence of a law that takes away our freedom, let alone allowing such a law to emerge, take hold, and take away our freedoms for a specific amount of time. The moment the Governor of Illinois announced his lock down and stay at home order was the moment he stepped outside the Constitution and his oath to defend it and until he returns to that, he is not my Governor, he is just another pretender to power that he doesn't have. We the people should ignore him and we are slowly realizing that.

This is cut and dry tyranny. What is tyranny? That's when your Governor attempts to take away your freedom, that's what tyranny means. This is not tolerable, not for one moment in time, not ever for any reason, it is prohibited under the first Amendment, and it is absolute, it is not okay for this to happen, do not allow these pretenders to tread on your freedom, they have no authority whatsoever to do that.

Governor

In all this craziness of this shut down, there is something that somehow remains fuzzy, something just isn't right, and no one is saying it out loud, we are getting snookered, and we know it, but we can't figure out exactly how. So let me say this straight out. This shut down is flat out illegal, it is point blank against the Constitution, it is outright tyranny, and it is our patriotic duty to revolt against it.

The Constitution was amended with this writ of rights that came straight from France. We have Robes Pierre - of all people - to thank for our Bill of Rights. Who was Robes Pierre? He was the world's first terrorist. Robes Pierre terrorized the nation of France to force it to give up their king and accept the new republic. In so doing, he wrote the people a list of rights they would enjoy under the new republic. A politician's politician, you might say.

Now the very first right of the people living under the republic - and therefore the most important right we have - is the right to free speech; this includes freedom of the press and freedom to assemble for purposes of worship or to protest the government. All of that is your freedom of speech.

When we sing "land of the freeeeeeeeee" ... we are singing about the first Amendment. When we sing, "I'm proud to be an American, where, at least, I know I'm free..." we are singing about the first Amendment prohibiting Congress from making any law that takes away our freedom of speech.

Government can not take away our freedom in this republic. The republic was set up under the strict prohibition of making any law that takes away our freedom; IOW, if some Governor proclaims he/she has outlawed your freedom for any reason, that Governor is no longer a Governor, he/she has zero authority the moment he/she does that, because he/she has gone outside of the republic, where he/she is just another blow hard, all the authority of being a Governor is contained within the Constitution and their abiding within that framework of law. That's why they take an oath of office to defend the Constitution, not defend their political party, not defend the people, but defend the Constitution... all the power of their office is given by the Constitution.

So, this is an illegal lock down and we the people are not under any such law, this is the equivalent of a military officer giving an illegal order in the field, you actually are in trouble if you obey that order, we are not supposed to carry out illegal orders. Now the corner grocery store can legally require me to wear a mask if I want to shop there, that is their prerogative, but the Governor can not order me to stay at home or not go to church or not protest his tyrannical edicts. In Illinois, the county sheriffs are refusing to carry out the Governor's illegal orders, they do that because they understand better than to carry out illegal commands. It is a sad state of affairs that the common people do not have that understanding, but we are starting to figure it out.

The con job is the use of the pandemic as a state of emergency and the strange act of trying to place a quarantine on healthy people. Already something should not feel right about that. But it doesn't matter what the real death rate is or whether hospitals are over whelmed with patients, none of that matters, the government can not tread on the first Amendment for any reason and not for any amount of time. The Amendment prohibits the emergence of a law that takes away our freedom, let alone allowing such a law to emerge, take hold, and take away our freedoms for a specific amount of time. The moment the Governor of Illinois announced his lock down and stay at home order was the moment he stepped outside the Constitution and his oath to defend it and until he returns to that, he is not my Governor, he is just another pretender to power that he doesn't have. We the people should ignore him and we are slowly realizing that.

This is cut and dry tyranny. What is tyranny? That's when your Governor attempts to take away your freedom, that's what tyranny means. This is not tolerable, not for one moment in time, not ever for any reason, it is prohibited under the first Amendment, and it is absolute, it is not okay for this to happen, do not allow these pretenders to tread on your freedom, they have no authority whatsoever to do that.

No one is stopping you from leaving your home. I leave my home nearly every day. I wear a mask in the places where I must (my work, which is on a Federal installation that requires the wearing of masks), the grocery store, the gas station mini mart) and don't where it's not necessary (walking to and within the park surrounding the community center). During a pandemic, during which I and others are in danger of contracting a highly contagious deadly disease, wearing a mask is the least I can do. Curtailing activities that imply close contact (church, movies) is an easy decision given the potentially grave consequences to myself or others of not curtailing them. To me this is a no brainer. Americans managed to operate under the same isolation circumstances way back in 1918 and came out the other side with their freedoms to go to church and otherwise associate fully restored. I have no doubt we will experience the same this time.

Commentator

No one is stopping you from leaving your home. I leave my home nearly every day. I wear a mask in the places where I must (my work, which is on a Federal installation that requires the wearing of masks), the grocery store, the gas station mini mart) and don't where it's not necessary (walking to and within the park surrounding the community center). During a pandemic, during which I and others are in danger of contracting a highly contagious deadly disease, wearing a mask is the least I can do. Curtailing activities that imply close contact (church, movies) is an easy decision given the potentially grave consequences to myself or others of not curtailing them. To me this is a no brainer. Americans managed to operate under the same isolation circumstances way back in 1918 and came out the other side with their freedoms to go to church and otherwise associate fully restored. I have no doubt we will experience the same this time.

I live in Illinois, and the Governor here makes no bones about it; we are not allowed in public places without being employed at an "essential" task. My son has to carry a document in his pocket that states he is employed by an "essential" business.

Of course, you are correct, no one is stopping me because the sheriff of my county is on record saying he won't enforce laws that step on the first Amendment right of the people. You see, the sheriff also took an oath of office and he is also under oath to defend the Constitution.

Governor

I live in Illinois, and the Governor here makes no bones about it; we are not allowed in public places without being employed at an "essential" task. My son has to carry a document in his pocket that states he is employed by an "essential" business.

Of course, you are correct, no one is stopping me because the sheriff of my county is on record saying he won't enforce laws that step on the first Amendment right of the people. You see, the sheriff also took an oath of office and he is also under oath to defend the Constitution.

Interesting. No one is stopping me because there is no law against leaving my house even though the sidewalk in front of my house is a "public place." Are you saying that Illinois has a law against you leaving your house? Even for a walk or to go to the grocery store or pharmacy? Do you need a doctor's note to visit the pharmacy? What do you need to proffer as proof that your trip is for the grocery store?

Commentator

Interesting. No one is stopping me because there is no law against leaving my house even though the sidewalk in front of my house is a "public place." Are you saying that Illinois has a law against you leaving your house? Even for a walk or to go to the grocery store or pharmacy? Do you need a doctor's note to visit the pharmacy? What do you need to proffer as proof that your trip is for the grocery store?

We have no laws on the books but we have edicts from the Governor. We have a set of essential things we can do in public places, and you know what? I'm not even sure if walking your dog is allowed in our public parks. No one knows what exactly the Governor is saying, but he did get all "thus sayeth the Governor" about wearing masks in public beginning May 1st. And you better believe that travel is restricted. And getting a haircut is illegal, and people are getting ticketed for it and barbers are having their license revoked, but the Governor looks awful good and we know the mayor of Chicago got her hair done... it is all trampling your freedom of speech. Your right to go to church on Sunday and sit in a pew and say nothing is a part of your freedom of speech. Your freedom to move about and do as you please is a part of your freedom of speech. This is America, the land of the free, the government can not take that right from you; it is an inalienable right, it is your god-given right and the government has no say in the matter... or so said Thomas Jefferson; and he was an atheist.

Governor

We have no laws on the books but we have edicts from the Governor. We have a set of essential things we can do in public places, and you know what? I'm not even sure if walking your dog is allowed in our public parks. No one knows what exactly the Governor is saying, but he did get all "thus sayeth the Governor" about wearing masks in public beginning May 1st. And you better believe that travel is restricted. And getting a haircut is illegal, and people are getting ticketed for it and barbers are having their license revoked, but the Governor looks awful good and we know the mayor of Chicago got her hair done... it is all trampling your freedom of speech. Your right to go to church on Sunday and sit in a pew and say nothing is a part of your freedom of speech. Your freedom to move about and do as you please is a part of your freedom of speech. This is America, the land of the free, the government can not take that right from you; it is an inalienable right, it is your god-given right and the government has no say in the matter... or so said Thomas Jefferson; and he was an atheist.

Meh. As I noted, Americans went through this in 1918 and everything went back to normal when the virus receded. We'll get through this and no one will die of having skipped a haircut or church service. Wearing masks never hurt anyone and it gives you solidarity with your fellow citizens who show their concern for your life even as you show your concern for theirs. You've never been able to "do as you please" (try going to the park naked sometime) and these measures are temporary (as you noted - there's no law on the books). We each need to suck it up and behave as though we actually do love our fellow man rather than just saying we do.

Commentator

Meh. As I noted, Americans went through this in 1918 and everything went back to normal when the virus receded. We'll get through this and no one will die of having skipped a haircut or church service. Wearing masks never hurt anyone and it gives you solidarity with your fellow citizens who show their concern for your life even as you show your concern for theirs. You've never been able to "do as you please" (try going to the park naked sometime) and these measures are temporary (as you noted - there's no law on the books). We each need to suck it up and behave as though we actually do love our fellow man rather than just saying we do.

I don't think any Governors outlawed free speech in 1918. I hope we get through this also, I hope it is temporary also, I hope we return to the rule of law... because living under tyranny is intolerable. Didn't the British pass "intolerable acts"? That's why we included a Bill of Rights with our Constitution, so that Americans would never have to live under tyranny again.

Governor

I don't think any Governors outlawed free speech in 1918. I hope we get through this also, I hope it is temporary also, I hope we return to the rule of law... because living under tyranny is intolerable. Didn't the British pass "intolerable acts"? That's why we included a Bill of Rights with our Constitution, so that Americans would never have to live under tyranny again.

We're not living under tyranny. We're living through a global pandemic involving a virulent easily transmitted deadly virus just as we did in 1918.

Churches were closed in 1918 as they are now. Gatherings were curtailed in 1918 as they are now. Businesses were closed in 1918 as they are now. Masks were required in 1918 as they are now. All that ended when the 1918 virus receded as they will when ours does. Free speech was allowed then, as it is allowed now. Look at all of us on here exercising our right to free speech. The restrictions we are currently under will pass, as they did in 1918. How long will that take? Longer if people continue to violate the restrictions, shorter if people obey them. What will ensure the virus stays active in communities, and cases continue to rise, and people continue to die, is if people can't have the good common sense to abide by the current restrictions put in place to limit the spread of the virus for the length of time it takes to reduce the daily rise in numbers of cases.

Those who really do care about their fellow man will follow the restrictions, those who just mouth the words but don't actually care about anything beyond themselves will violate them. It's not a case of standing up to "tyranny" from some other people, it's a virus. A deadly virus. It doesn't care about your or my politics or who we vote for or who wins the next election or what religion we are or whether we have a religion at all. You can't vote it out or shoot it dead or wish it away. You can either work to save your fellow citizens or you can contribute to their deaths by acting selfishly. It's really as simple as that.

Commentator

Edited. This is where it gets tedious, re-explaining a very simple concept that was just explained. Tyranny is government that treads under foot our rights, that is what it is. We are living under tyranny in Illinois and Michigan and another 41 states, it is different degrees of tyranny, but it is tyranny. The moment our rulers started spitting out laws that step on our god-given rights, was the moment they went from Constitutional governing to tyranny. So, yes, we are living through a global pandemic and in the midst of it, 43 of our state Governors have enacted intolerable edicts tyrannical to the first Amendment right of free speech. Edited

Churches were closed in 1918 as they are now. Gatherings were curtailed in 1918 as they are now. Businesses were closed in 1918 as they are now. Masks were required in 1918 as they are now. All that ended when the 1918 virus receded as they will when ours does.

By law or by volunteer? We can volunteer to give up our rights, but the government can not outlaw them. capice? Know why Trump issued guidelines to the states instead of emergency orders? Because he was snookering the governors into violating the constitution, that he himself didn't want to violate. Call that, election year politics.

Free speech was allowed then, as it is allowed now. Look at all of us on here exercising our right to free speech. The restrictions we are currently under will pass, as they did in 1918. How long will that take? Longer if people continue to violate the restrictions, shorter if people obey them. What will ensure the virus stays active in communities, and cases continue to rise, and people continue to die, is if people can't have the good common sense to abide by the current restrictions put in place to limit the spread of the virus for the length of time it takes to reduce the daily rise in numbers of cases.

The restrictions we are currently living under violate our right to free speech. That's why protesters are writing the first Amendment on signs and marching those signs in front of state capitol buildings. These edicts are inConstitutional, hence, illegal orders, so according to the Constitution, they don't exist, at least, they don't exist in the body of law governing the republic. We are not bound by them, neither are our sheriffs bound to enforce them, they are the musings of tyrants, they have no power of law in the republic.

Those who really do care about their fellow man will follow the restrictions, those who just mouth the words but don't actually care about anything beyond themselves will violate them. It's not a case of standing up to "tyranny" from some other people, it's a virus. A deadly virus. It doesn't care about your or my politics or who we vote for or who wins the next election or what religion we are or whether we have a religion at all. You can't vote it out or shoot it dead or wish it away. You can either work to save your fellow citizens or you can contribute to their deaths by acting selfishly. It's really as simple as that.

Those who care about the rule of law will not follow illegal orders. It really is a case of standing up to tyranny. I think that was the topic. Don't tread on me was written on flags and waived as colors of a cause... we literally went to war with those words. The virus is a medical issue, but the shut-down and stay at home orders are governmental issues, while the state can issue all the medical advice it wants - our states even have surgeon generals to give us full time medical advice - but the state can not create laws that trample our Constitutional rights ( for any reason ) and that's what this thread is about. We are being conned with a medical quarantine placed on healthy people... and it is okay for the state to ask us to do that, but it is illegal for the state to make a law demanding it, because it is prohibited by the first Amendment.

Senator

Edited. This is where it gets tedious, re-explaining a very simple concept that was just explained. Tyranny is government that treads under foot our rights, that is what it is. We are living under tyranny in Illinois and Michigan and another 41 states, it is different degrees of tyranny, but it is tyranny. The moment our rulers started spitting out laws that step on our god-given rights, was the moment they went from Constitutional governing to tyranny. So, yes, we are living through a global pandemic and in the midst of it, 43 of our state Governors have enacted intolerable edicts tyrannical to the first Amendment right of free speech. Edited

By law or by volunteer? We can volunteer to give up our rights, but the government can not outlaw them. capice? Know why Trump issued guidelines to the states instead of emergency orders? Because he was snookering the governors into violating the constitution, that he himself didn't want to violate. Call that, election year politics.

The restrictions we are currently living under violate our right to free speech. That's why protesters are writing the first Amendment on signs and marching those signs in front of state capitol buildings. These edicts are inConstitutional, hence, illegal orders, so according to the Constitution, they don't exist, at least, they don't exist in the body of law governing the republic. We are not bound by them, neither are our sheriffs bound to enforce them, they are the musings of tyrants, they have no power of law in the republic.

Those who care about the rule of law will not follow illegal orders. It really is a case of standing up to tyranny. I think that was the topic. Don't tread on me was written on flags and waived as colors of a cause... we literally went to war with those words. The virus is a medical issue, but the shut-down and stay at home orders are governmental issues, while the state can issue all the medical advice it wants - our states even have surgeon generals to give us full time medical advice - but the state can not create laws that trample our Constitutional rights ( for any reason ) and that's what this thread is about. We are being conned with a medical quarantine placed on healthy people... and it is okay for the state to ask us to do that, but it is illegal for the state to make a law demanding it, because it is prohibited by the first Amendment.

Inevitably, the debate circles the drain...ultimately to the point of ‘agree with my views and replicate my actions or you don’t care about your fellow man’. I see this all over social media. Folks now engage in “virus shaming”, “mask shaming”, and virtue signal about the moral superiority of agreeing to lockdown.

I agree with you that this is tyranny. Moreover, I am concerned about a people whose majority are amenable to ongoing quarantine absent any well-enunciated, clear milestones and objective data points for its end. I’m not storming capital buildings or protesting. I am merely observing a nation whose people may well be failing a test - and whose rulers will note this for future reference. No conspiracy here - just an observation that herd movements or the lack thereof are always studied by predators prior to aggressive action.

Commentator

Inevitably, the debate circles the drain...ultimately to the point of ‘agree with my views and replicate my actions or you don’t care about your fellow man’. I see this all over social media. Folks now engage in “virus shaming”, “mask shaming”, and virtue signal about the moral superiority of agreeing to lockdown.

I agree with you that this is tyranny. Moreover, I am concerned about a people whose majority are amenable to ongoing quarantine absent any well-enunciated, clear milestones and objective data points for its end. I’m not storming capital buildings or protesting. I am merely observing a nation whose people may well be failing a test - and whose rulers will note this for future reference. No conspiracy here - just an observation that herd movements or the lack thereof are always studied by predators prior to aggressive action.

When Americans do not know their own Constitution, that knowledge vacuum is filled by the voices of main stream media. Presidents and Governors will always push the envelope of their power, the press is there to hold them in check, but these days, the press is colluding with government to dupe Americans into accepting tyranny. This is scary. Our Constitution was set up to absolutely not allow the tiniest shred of tyranny... no governing authority in our republic should begin to dare to step over that line... and yet, here we are today witnessing our president and state governors trampling under foot the first Amendment, it is totally surreal.

You would think with all this ability to talk to each other, Americans would be the most vigiliante they have ever been... instead, we are being lulled to sleep by our political parties. And even the new political parties are not seizing the day and saying anything at all about this tyranny... the entire system is failing.

Senator

When Americans do not know their own Constitution, that knowledge vacuum is filled by the voices of main stream media. Presidents and Governors will always push the envelope of their power, the press is there to hold them in check, but these days, the press is colluding with government to dupe Americans into accepting tyranny. This is scary. Our Constitution was set up to absolutely not allow the tiniest shred of tyranny... no governing authority in our republic should begin to dare to step over that line... and yet, here we are today witnessing our president and state governors trampling under foot the first Amendment, it is totally surreal.

You would think with all this ability to talk to each other, Americans would be the most vigiliante they have ever been... instead, we are being lulled to sleep by our political parties. And even the new political parties are not seizing the day and saying anything at all about this tyranny... the entire system is failing.

Yes, agreed. It seems clear that our politicians and media have learned that vast quantities of ANYTHING conditions you and numbs you to that thing. It becomes no big deal. “Taking one for the team” is effectively what media (and many PJ posters here) argue every day. Except in this case, “taking one for the team” SHOULD mean those of us who are part of the less at risk population rejecting the lockdown orders rather than mousey acquiescence.

The state I live in has a constitutional requirement that the executive (governor) can invoke emergency authority for a maximum 28 days, after which either the legislature affirmatively passes legislation for its continuation...or the order expires. Neither of those things occurred. The lockdown - now in week 9 - continues while the state supreme court (most of which are allies to the sitting governor) considers the matter.

You see - even things codified in black and white, absolute language cannot be relied upon. They will twist it to accommodate whatever their whim. Charter documents no longer matter. In fact, they don’t even attempt to amend them in order to make desired actions legal. They simply and boldly do what they want. And we lay down.

Commentator

Yes, agreed. It seems clear that our politicians and media have learned that vast quantities of ANYTHING conditions you and numbs you to that thing. It becomes no big deal. “Taking one for the team” is effectively what media (and many PJ posters here) argue every day. Except in this case, “taking one for the team” SHOULD mean those of us who are part of the less at risk population rejecting the lockdown orders rather than mousey acquiescence.

The state I live in has a constitutional requirement that the executive (governor) can invoke emergency authority for a maximum 28 days, after which either the legislature affirmatively passes legislation for its continuation...or the order expires. Neither of those things occurred. The lockdown - now in week 9 - continues while the state supreme court (most of which are allies to the sitting governor) considers the matter.

You see - even things codified in black and white, absolute language cannot be relied upon. They will twist it to accommodate whatever their whim. Charter documents no longer matter. In fact, they don’t even attempt to amend them in order to make desired actions legal. They simply and boldly do what they want. And we lay down.

granny has to go, everyone has to go, sooner or later, nothing will change that. In the mean time, we live by the rule of law or we live by tyranny. I am hearing that 28 day limit in all these states. Wisconsin state supreme court struck down the Governor's extension of martial law, but weakly done, as they pointed to the official in the department of health not being an elected official. Well, hell's bells, the Governor being elected is not the same as law passing the legislature... the precedent for their ruling didn't need to rely on the extension coming from an in-elected official, and they are going to fold again as soon as the Governor resurrects the order. In Illinois, one county acted on their regional autonomy as provided by the state constitution after the 28 day mark and their health department took a vote and struck down the Governor's orders in their county.

Governors have emergency powers that can step on our rights, but only for 28 days. These Governors extending their shut downs beyond 28 days is pure tyranny, it was my patriotic duty to show up at the state capitol with my Sherman tank on day 29 and depose this pretender to power, but alas, I was like most of the rest of America; uneducated and unarmed.

Senator

granny has to go, everyone has to go, sooner or later, nothing will change that. In the mean time, we live by the rule of law or we live by tyranny. I am hearing that 28 day limit in all these states. Wisconsin state supreme court struck down the Governor's extension of martial law, but weakly done, as they pointed to the official in the department of health not being an elected official. Well, hell's bells, the Governor being elected is not the same as law passing the legislature... the precedent for their ruling didn't need to rely on the extension coming from an in-elected official, and they are going to fold again as soon as the Governor resurrects the order. In Illinois, one county acted on their regional autonomy as provided by the state constitution after the 28 day mark and their health department took a vote and struck down the Governor's orders in their county.

Governors have emergency powers that can step on our rights, but only for 28 days. These Governors extending their shut downs beyond 28 days is pure tyranny, it was my patriotic duty to show up at the state capitol with my Sherman tank on day 29 and depose this pretender to power, but alas, I was like most of the rest of America; uneducated and unarmed.

This is where we are as a people. Sure makes pondering retirement abroad an easier consideration. I’m considering a sort of “nomadic” existence with wifey when I retire - renting for 6-12 months at a time, exploring a country, and then moving on to the next.

I do not suffer stationary existence well. I’m a bit too hyper and independent for that.

Commentator

This is where we are as a people. Sure makes pondering retirement abroad an easier consideration. I’m considering a sort of “nomadic” existence with wifey when I retire - renting for 6-12 months at a time, exploring a country, and then moving on to the next.

I do not suffer stationary existence well. I’m a bit too hyper and independent for that.

I'm going nowhere. I'm staying right here and exercising my constitutional rights. You won't find a stronger foundation of human rights and liberty anywhere. My wife has a saying: bloom where you are planted.

35 years ago I lost my sanity and found myself deposited in a state sanitarium in Michigan... stripped of all freedom, at the total mercy of doctors that, well, let's just say the cream of the medical talent doesn't reside in our state mental facilities. It was hell on earth. And I remember one of the resident zombies saying to me, "be strong" ... it was the only two words he spoke in the six weeks I spent there. When you find yourself living at the mercy of quacks who couldn't care less whether you dropped dead in the morning... you've got to be strong.

Senator

I'm going nowhere. I'm staying right here and exercising my constitutional rights. You won't find a stronger foundation of human rights and liberty anywhere. My wife has a saying: bloom where you are planted.

35 years ago I lost my sanity and found myself deposited in a state sanitarium in Michigan... stripped of all freedom, at the total mercy of doctors that, well, let's just say the cream of the medical talent doesn't reside in our state mental facilities. It was hell on earth. And I remember one of the resident zombies saying to me, "be strong" ... it was the only two words he spoke in the six weeks I spent there. When you find yourself living at the mercy of quacks who couldn't care less whether you dropped dead in the morning... you've got to be strong.

Mayor

We seem to revere the constitution more then the founders did. Lamenting about safety policies to prevent pandemics is a very silly and short sighted exercise in selfish idiocy in my opinion. Citing the constitution as the basis is even more absurd. The constitution allowed slavery, slave patrols, indentured servitude, child labor, untold abuses against women, the mass slaughter of native Americans, legalized discrimination against any and all types not liked by those in power and so much more. The founders themselves had no problem with all of these restrictions on liberty and freedom so why use their document today to give you an excuse to potentially infect others or become infected? I wish people would just realize we are all in this together, we all make sacrifices for each other and in the end, we all benefit and suffer together.

Commentator

We seem to revere the constitution more then the founders did. Lamenting about safety policies to prevent pandemics is a very silly and short sighted exercise in selfish idiocy in my opinion. Citing the constitution as the basis is even more absurd. The constitution allowed slavery, slave patrols, indentured servitude, child labor, untold abuses against women, the mass slaughter of native Americans, legalized discrimination against any and all types not liked by those in power and so much more. The founders themselves had no problem with all of these restrictions on liberty and freedom so why use their document today to give you an excuse to potentially infect others or become infected? I wish people would just realize we are all in this together, we all make sacrifices for each other and in the end, we all benefit and suffer together.

don't tread on my freedoms, sure the Constitution isn't perfect, look at the source; but it is a far cry better than tyranny. Why can't the local county department of health run voluntary social distancing? The state doesn't need to tread on my first Amendment rights. The program works better being voluntary ... there was no good reason to declare a state of emergency over a virus... that was just stupid.

This whole affair is an election year stunt by Trump, and the Dems fell for it. But it sets a really bad precedent. This isn't going to go away. The Governors will see how much they can get away with and then it will happen all over again, and they will push it a little further... and then again, and pretty soon it will become full fledged in your face tyranny, and then you will wake up but it will be too late. When they flood your living space with drones that take your temperature when you go for a walk and send the police to arrest you if you have a fever... sound like no big deal? they are already talking about doing that, now.

Mayor

So your lament is not about the original intent of the constitution but about your personal view of what the federal and state governments can do in the face of a worldwide pandemic to protect each of us from each other. I get it but don't use the constitution to justify your opinion, use your opinion since it stands alone and outside the law.

Commentator

So your lament is not about the original intent of the constitution but about your personal view of what the federal and state governments can do in the face of a worldwide pandemic to protect each of us from each other. I get it but don't use the constitution to justify your opinion, use your opinion since it stands alone and outside the law.

that's kind of it....
I would have stated it a little differently;
something more like, it is my opinion of the constitution as it applies to the republic today... so, very much inside the law; aka the rule of law.

Did you know that your ownership of your house is actually a legal opinion of the records held at County? The records themselves are not in and of themselves proof of ownership, ownership actually lies in a professional legal opinion of the records. The constitution is like that. The actual text on paper is not the law of the land, constitutional law is the judicial opinion (interpretation) of the text. That's why lawyers refer to the Supreme Court rulings when they are stating the law. So, the big idea is that it is a living constitution, because it is the ongoing opinion of the Supreme Court that becomes law.

So, in the main, I agree with your point, because I care not for the original intent of the first Amendment (seduce the French people to change their allegiance from the crown to the republic) (and that was the original intent of the writing; remember who wrote it, Robes Pierre's committee wrote it, we just copied it) ... I only care how the amendment is applied to our republic today. And it is my opinion that this current tyrannical law being spouted from my Governor is stepping all over the first Amendment, as it applies to our state law today.